The woman found dead outside Paula Abdul's home has been identified as a failed American Idol contestant.

Paula Goodspeed was discovered in a car near the singer's Sherman Oaks house yesterday. Her death is being treated as suicide.

Goodspeed, 30, failed to get past the initial stages of the popular show in 2006, reports TMZ.

She spoke of her admiration for Abdul during her audition, saying: "I'm a really big fan and I made life-sized drawings of Paula. I've been drawing ever since I was a little kid and my first drawing was of Paula Abdul." However, her rendition of 'Proud Mary' was mocked by the judges and she did not progress in the competition.

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A spokesperson for the Ventura Police Department said Goodspeed's parents asked them to check her home as she has a history of stalking and was obsessed with Abdul.